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Armed Assaulter Arrested

BISHOPVILLE – A Bishopville man was arrested this week after allegedly pointing a loaded handgun at his former girlfriend during an argument at his home.

Following an investigation this week by the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI), Walter W. Mumford, 26, of Bishopville, was arrested and charged with first- and second-degree assault. On Tuesday, Mumford’s former girlfriend reported to Maryland State Police that Mumford pointed a loaded handgun at her after an argument at his Bishopville home.

The victim fled the residence and contacted the police. WCBI detectives located Mumford a short distance from his residence and placed him under arrest. The handgun allegedly used during the incident was recovered by police. Mumford was later released by the District Court Commissioner on a $50,000 unsecured bond.

Sex Offender Sentenced

SNOW HILL – A Berlin man indicted by a Worcester County grand jury in August on charges of rape and assault following a pattern of abuse on his young daughter dating back several years was found guilty this week on a third-degree sex offense charge.

Lennie King, 39, of Berlin, this week in Circuit Court entered an Alford plea to a third-degree sex offense and was sentenced to three years in jail with all but 18 months suspended, and was placed on probation for 18 months. An Alford plea is entered when a defendant acknowledges the state has enough evidence to prosecute a case but does not plead guilty.

King was indicted by a grand jury in August when his alleged years-long pattern of sexual assault and rape against his daughter dating back to 2001 when she was 11 years old. At the time, King was also indicted on two counts of second-degree rape, attempted second-degree rape, two counts of third-degree sex offense and two counts of sex abuse on a minor. Those charges were dropped when King entered the Alford plea in one of the third-degree sex offense charges.

Burglary Suspect Sought

OCEAN CITY – Resort police this week are looking for a suspect who illegally entered an Ocean City restaurant that is closed for the season.

The OCPD Criminal Investigation Division is making residents and business owners aware of a burglary that occurred at Phillips Crab House on 21st Street early last Saturday. Police responded to the building after a resident alerted them an entrance that ordinarily remains closed during the off-season was standing open.

When OCPD officers arrived, they found no sign of damage or forced entry. After obtaining permission from the business owners, OCPD officers entered the restaurant and were able to obtain surveillance camera footage of an intruder in the building.

It is not unusual for vacant buildings to be burglarized during the winter months when many businesses and residences are unoccupied, although there have been few reported this winter. OCPD Chief Bernadette DiPino said this week the department is attempting to remind local residents of the risk of burglaries to unoccupied buildings in the winter months.

“We think that it is important to let other business and community members know that this has happened,” she said. “It is our hope that by releasing the images from the surveillance footage, we will actually be able to catch this person before this happens again.”

Nothing was taken from Saturday morning’s burglary. Police are asking anyone with information about the burglary to contact CID at 410-723-6604.

Joint Effort Nabs Burglary Suspect

SNOW HILL – The combined efforts of the Worcester County and Wicomico County Bureaus of Investigation last week resulted in the arrest of a Snow Hill juvenile wanted in connection with as many as 12 burglaries in the two jurisdictions over the last several months.

Last Monday, the two allied agencies cooperated on the execution of a search warrant for a residence in Snow Hill believed to be the location of a juvenile identified as a suspect in a burglary in Eden. The search warrant was served on the residence and investigators recovered stolen property including a shotgun, a SKS assault rifle and a television.

Investigators interviewed the juvenile who confessed to being involved with numerous burglaries in Worcester County, all of which were in the Snow Hill area. The juvenile admitted being involved with as many as 10-12 burglaries in the county over the last several months. The juvenile admitted selling the stolen goods and investigators have already recovered numerous computers, televisions and other items. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact WCBI.

Fairfax Deputy Surrenders

OCEAN CITY – A Fairfax County, Va. deputy sheriff charged with raping a woman in an Ocean City hotel room last week turned himself in to authorities in Anne Arundel County last Thursday and was released on a $100,000 bond pending trial in Worcester.

Fairfax County Deputy Sheriff Zachary Dennis Taylor, 31, of Ruther Glen, Va., has been formally charged with second-degree rape, second-degree assault and a fourth-degree sex offense for an alleged sexual assault on a 22-year-old female on February 24. A warrant was sworn out for Taylor’s arrest and he turned himself in to authorities in Anne Arundel County last Thursday, four days after the alleged incident.

According to police reports, Taylor met the victim, who was reportedly intoxicated, at an Ocean City nightclub and assisted her to his hotel room. The victim told police that once in Taylor’s hotel room, Taylor undressed her and sexually assaulted her, after which Taylor allegedly escorted her out of the hotel room and put her on an elevator alone, according to police reports.

The victim was subsequently found lying on a sofa in the hotel lobby crying hysterically. Hotel employees found the victim on the lobby sofa and called the police.

Taylor has been placed on administrative leave and has been relieved of his law enforcement authority credentials and his firearm. No trial dates have been set.

TV Thief Sought

OCEAN CITY – Resort police this week are looking for the suspect or suspects who stole four flat-screen televisions from a downtown condominium earlier this winter.

OCPD officers responded to the Sea Bright condominiums on Wicomico Street last Friday for a reported burglary. The owner of one condo unit told police someone had broken into the unit in question sometime between Jan. 19 and Feb. 29 and stole four flat-screen TVs valued at $2,500. Police are following several leads in the case. Anyone with information or that might have seen suspicious persons or vehicles in the area are encouraged to call the OCPD’s Criminal Investigation Division at 410-723-6604.

Pit Bull Pups Swiped

SHOWELL – Maryland State Police this week are looking for the suspect or suspects who stole three pit bull puppies, each around two months old, from a residence on Pitts Rd. in Showell.

Last Friday, MSP troopers from the Berlin barrack responded to the residence for the reported theft of the three puppies, which were kept outdoors in a chain-link enclosure. The investigation is ongoing with the troopers following several leads. Anyone with information about the thefts is encouraged to call the MSP Berlin barrack at 410-641-3101.

Seat Belt Stop Yields Crack Bust

BERLIN – An Ocean City woman was arrested on crack possession charges last week after getting pulled over for a seat belt violation.

On Feb. 24, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over Sharon Louise Burgett, 46, of Ocean City, for a seat belt violation. During the course of the traffic stop, a K-9 unit alerted on the vehicle and a subsequent search turned up several pieces of suspected crack cocaine. Burgett was arrested and charged with possession of crack before being released pending trial.

Bonfire Drug Bust Suspect Convicted

SNOW HILL – A Millsboro, Del. man, who was one of several arrested on drug and alcohol charges during a bonfire in the middle of a northern Worcester County street last summer, pleaded guilty to marijuana possession in Circuit Court this week and was placed on probation for two years and fined $500.

Christopher A. Shumate, 18, of Millsboro, was arrested along with three juveniles last summer when Maryland Natural Resources Police on routine patrol noticed a crowd of around 15 people gathered around a large fire in the middle of the roadway at Nelson and Swamp roads. Further investigation at the scene, utilizing a K-9 unit from Worcester County Sheriff’s Office revealed numerous positive hits for a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) inside one of the vehicles. A subsequent search of that vehicle recovered suspected marijuana and a large amount of alcohol.

Shumate, a 16-year-old girl from Felton and two juveniles from Selbyville, ages 15 and 16, were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of alcohol by a person under 21. The juveniles were turned over to the Department of Social Services.

Guilty Plea In Painkiller Theft

OCEAN CITY- A local man appeared in District Court this week to face attempted theft charges after he got caught swiping painkillers from his roommate’s purse.

Michael David Liggett, 51, pleaded guilty to attempted theft less than $100, maintaining that he was not trying to steal from his roommate despite his guilty plea.

Shortly before 5 a.m. on Jan. 27, OCPD officers responded to a residence on Shipwreck Rd. for a reported domestic assault. Upon arrival, the officers met with the theft victim who said she awoke to find her roommate, later identified as Liggett, going through her purse looking for prescription Oxycontin pills.

Liggett told police he went downstairs to where the victim was sleeping and planned to take one Oxycontin pill, which he knew she kept in her purse. When the victim awoke to find Liggett going through her purse, she yelled for her husband to come downstairs. The victim’s husband repeatedly told Liggett to leave and a verbal altercation escalated into a physical fight between the two men. Officers arrested Liggett for attempted theft under $100 and second-degree assault. The assault charges were later dropped.

Liggett’s attorney explained this week that Liggett routinely went into his roommate’s purse, with her consent, to obtain migraine medication. Liggett attributed the ensuing events to the fact that they weren’t getting along at the time, maintaining that he was not attempting to steal anything.

Liggett was found guilty and fined $557.50.

Loaded Gun Case Forwarded to Circuit

OCEAN CITY – A Salisbury man appeared in District Court this week to face a variety of weapons and drug charges that stemmed from a traffic stop in December.

During the early morning of Dec. 23, Ocean City Police Officer Shawn Beach stopped a suspected drunk driver at 30th Street and Coastal Highway. As a result of the on-scene investigation, the driver, identified as Jordan Holland Gilsdorf, 21, of Salisbury, was arrested for driving under the influence.

While at the scene, Beach discovered Gilsdorf had a loaded 9mm Glock handgun in the center console. Also discovered in the vehicle in close proximity to the weapon were four quart-sized clear plastic bags containing a fungus-like substance the officer suspected to be Psilocybin mushrooms, a schedule I controlled dangerous substance.

Because of the loaded handgun and the vast amount of suspected mushrooms, Gilsdorf was charged with the illegal transportation of a handgun, possession of CDS, possession of CDS in sufficient quantity to indicate an intent to distribute, possession of a firearm under sufficient circumstances to constitute a nexus to the drug trafficking crime, and engaging in drug trafficking while transporting a firearm.

Judge Daniel Mumford forwarded the case to Circuit Court after reviewing the facts of the case.

Man Arrested Twice In 24 Hours Pleads Guilty

OCEAN CITY – A local man had his day in court this week after being arrested twice in 24 hours for the same offense last December.

Jason Edgar Knaub, 33, of Ocean City, pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana this week, resulting in a nolle prosse of the remaining charges against him.

On Dec. 21, Ocean City Police executed a search and seizure warrant on a residence on Robin Drive in Ocean City. During a search of the residence, a quantity of marijuana was seized along with items of drug paraphernalia.

The occupant of the residence, identified as Knaub, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. After an initial appearance, Knaub was released from custody on his own recognizance by a District Court commissioner.

After his release from custody in the early morning hours on Dec. 22, OCPD officers pulled over Knaub’s vehicle for a routine vehicle equipment violation, although Knaub was not driving. A police K-9 unit was present during the traffic stop and alerted on the vehicle indicating the presence of controlled dangerous substance (CDS).

OCPD officers then located an amount of marijuana and associated paraphernalia in the area of the passenger seat where Knaub was sitting. Knaub was again arrested for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Police reported this week in District Court that the marijuana seized was revealed to be a total of 7.2 grams.

Knaub was found guilty and fined $557.50.

Door Basher Fined

OCEAN CITY – Allan Ashley Rogers III pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of property this week in District Court, following his arrest in February at a local downtown bar.

On Feb. 1, Ocean City Police Officers were dispatched to the Harbor Inn in response to a male who would not leave the premises. Upon arrival, police observed Rogers repeatedly kicking the door to the establishment and ramming into it with his shoulder. Rogers was also yelling profanities and threatening remarks. Police repeatedly tried to control Rogers, asking him to sit down on the curb. Rogers continued to kick the door and scream and was arrested.

Rogers was found guilty of malicious destruction of property less than $500 and was fined $557.50.

Handgun Found In Traffic Stop

BERLIN – A Milton, Del. man was arrested on weapons charges this week after police located a loaded handgun in his vehicle during a routine traffic stop.

Around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over a 2002 Lincoln for speeding on southbound Route 113 near Route 589. During a search of the vehicle, driven by Eric N. Milton, 31, of Milton, police discovered a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun with two loaded magazines on the front passenger side floor board within reach of Milton. Milton was arrested and charged with possession of a handgun.

Assault Suspect Nabbed

WHALEYVILLE – A Whaleyville man was in custody this week after being apprehended following a reported domestic assault.

On Feb. 27, Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a domestic assault at a residence in Whaleyville. Upon arrival, the deputies learned the suspect, identified as Randy Lee Miller, 34, had fled the scene, but a warrant was issued for his arrest and he was taken into custody a short time later without incident. Miller is being held on a $20,000 bond pending trial.